Successes and shortfalls of community Plusoptix photoscreening: results from the iSee study in Southwestern Ontario.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work is to provide the final results from a community-wide photoscreening program in Southwestern Ontario for children aged 18 to 72 months, and to estimate the prevalence of amblyogenic risk factors in this population.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective, multisite photoscreening program.

PARTICIPANTS

5959 children aged 18-72 months were recruited and screened in Southwestern Ontario at 210 locations over a period of 3 years and 4 months.

METHODS

Ophthalmic screening examinations were performed with the Plusoptix S12 photoscreener. The threshold for the referral criteria used was the manufacturer's criteria on receiver operating characteristics 4.

RESULTS

The screening was negative in 5386 children (90.4%), positive in 403 (6.8%), and unreadable in 170 (2.9%); 42% of all screened children were ≤36 months old. The estimated amblyogenic risk factor prevalence of anisometropia was 4.0%, astigmatism was 3.1%, hyperopia was 1.1%, myopia was 0.4%, and strabismus was 0.4%. Of the 403 referred children, 99 (24.5%) completed a formal eye examination based on the responses returned to the study site.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first Canadian study that provides data on amblyogenic risk factors based on a volunteer-led photoscreening program. Photoscreening is an effective screening tool, particularly for pre-school-aged children; however, the lack of mandatory follow-up to ensure that children receive proper treatment based on cycloplegic refraction reduces the efficacy of screening.